Closure for cans.



G. A. CIBULKA.

GLOSURE FOR APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1909.

GANS.

Zlfzlnsse faz/wow' GEORGIE A. CIBULK, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLOSURE FOR CNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, i910.

Application filed June 11, 1909. Serial No. 501,517.

To all 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. CIBULKA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Closures for Cans, of which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates to cans and has for its principal object to produce a simple and lo inexpensive hermetically-sealed can having a supplemental closure which is adapted to cover an opening or openings made by tapping.

The invention consists in the parts and in the arran ements and combinations of parts hereina ter described `and claimed.

In the accompanying drawin forming part of this specification, and W ierein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure l is a top plan view of a can embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the supplemental closure shifted into position to permit tapping or to uncover an opening previously made;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the can head is formed; Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing a modification of the device; and, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a supple mental closure member detached from the can head.

f The can body 1 and bottom head (not shown) may be of any desirable construction. The top head 2 is preferably formed from a single blank. As shown in Fi 5, the blank is originally elptical. The e ges are all curved on the same radius but from different centers along the major axis of the blank, so that, when the same is folded along the dotted lines 3, 4, on opposite sides of the minor axis thereof, it will assume a circular shape. In this form the marginal portions of the blank may be turned or anged over the end portion of the can body as shown at 5 in Figs. 3 and 4 and secured thereto in any desirable manner. Preferably, the head is depressed slightly in the usual manner, thereby providing a bead or rim 6 around the edge o the can.

The portions of the blank between the lines 3 and 4 are folded under the adjacent end portions and the portions 7 thus folded are pinched close together and turned toward each other to provide overhanging retaining ledges or guideways extending entirely across the top of the can. A supplemental closure comprising a plate 8 is slidably fitted under the ledges 7 so as to be 6o shifted to cover and uncover a hole made by tapping the can -head between guideways 2. In the modification shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the plate 8 is provided with two circular erforations 9. One of the perforations is ocated at the extreme end portion and the other inwardly from the opposite end of the plate which terminates some distance from the' marginal rim on the can top when the first-mentioned end of the plate is moved close to the adjacent portion of the marginal rim, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. lVhen it is desired to extract the contents from the can the plate is shifted to the oposite side as shown in Fig. 2, and the head 1s punotured as at 10 by inserting a sharp instrument through the perforations 9, one of said openings l0 serving as an outlet for the contents and the other as an air-vent. When it is desired to close the openings 10, the plate is shifted back to the position shown in Fig. l.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the plate 8 has but one perforation 9 therein adapted to register with the air-vent. In this modification the outlet opening 11 is punched in that portion of the can head near to the rim which is left uncovered when the plate is shifted to bring its perforation into position to uncover the air-vent. When it is desired to cover the openings 10 and 1l the plate is shifted to the opposite side of the can. In cases where it is desirable to make only a single opening in the can top to extract the contents, the cover plate 8 95 need not be perforated but merely be moved l to cover and uncover the opening.

By the construction shown, the can may be cheaply manufactured and hermetically sealed until such time that it is desired to remove the contents. The device affords an effective protection against dust, insects orl other extraneous matter which would other wise enter the can after the opening has been made therein. It thus renders it possible to open the can, use a part of its contents, and set the rest aside for future use without danger of pollution. v

Obviously, the device admits of considerable. modiication without departing from 110 my invention. Therefore, I do not Wish to be limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown.

What I claim is:

l. A sealed can comprising a head formed of va single imperforate sheet of material having two intermediate portions thereof folded to provide two oppositely disposed retaining guides which extend across the outer face of the head, and a plate slidably mounted on said head with its opposite marginal portions slidably engaging the respective retaining guides, said plate being adapted to be moved to cover and uncover an opening made in the head between said retaining guides.

2. A sealed can comprising a head which is formed of a single sheet of material having two intermediate portions thereof creased and folded outwardly, -said outwardly folded portions being pinched and turned toward each other to provide two parallel overhanging ledges across the outer face of said head, and a plate slidably mounted on the outer face of said head with its side marginal portions under said overhanging ledges, said plate being adapted to cover and uncover an opening made in the head between said overhanging ledges.

3. A sealed can comprising a hea'd which is formed of a single sheet of material having two intermediate portions which are creased on parallel lines and folded outwardly, pinched and folded toward each other to provide two substantially parallel overhanging ledges across 'the outer face of said head, and a plate slidablymounted on the outer face of said head with its side marginal portions under said ledges, said plate being arranged to be moved to cover vand uncover an opening made in said head.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 8th day of June, 1909.

GEORGE A. CIBULKA.' 

